Boys and Girls Swimming: Northern Highlands and Indian Hills move up in The Record Top 10

Feb 9, 2016

Katie Noncarrow swims for Northern Highlands during a meet earlier this season with Paramus. (Photo by Bob King)

Katie Noncarrow swims for Northern Highlands during a meet earlier this season with Paramus. (Photo by Bob King)

Northern Highlands has improved its position in both the boys and girls polls because of its return to the state sectional championship games.

The Highlanders boys moved ahead of Teaneck to No. 5 by virtue of its 96-74 win against the Highwaymen in the North 1, Group B semifinals on Tuesday.

Of the public schools in The Record’s poll, Northern Highlands is the only girls team remaining in the state tournament. The Highlanders jumped from No. 4 to No. 2 in the poll and will face Roxbury in the championship game on Thursday. They earned a 111-59 win over Wayne Valley in the semifinals.

“I’m really happy with how both our girls and our boys did today,” Northern Highlands senior Isabella Biagioli said after Tuesday’s win. “I’m really proud. The boys had to really step up to beat Teaneck.”

Biagioli and her brother, Francis, both won a pair of individual events on Tuesday and have been consistent contributors for one of the region’s best swimming programs.

“They’re outstanding swimmers,” coach Tom Viscardi said.  “When you get kids like that, you hope you can support them with enough good kids.”

Indian Hills moved to No. 7, its highest position of the season, by beating NV/Old Tappan in the first round of the state tournament. The battle between the Braves and Highlanders for the Big North Freedom title should be one of the top storylines to watch for in the 2016-17 season.

The girls state sectional finals for North 1 are Thursday and the boys championships are Friday with both starting at 4 p.m. at Passaic Tech.

State Sectional Finals:

Boys
Group A: (1) Passaic Tech vs. (2) Montclair or (3) Livingston, 5:30 p.m.
Group B: (1) Randolph vs. (2) Northern Highlands, 7 p.m.
Group C: (1) NV/Demarest vs. (2) Tenafly, 4 p.m.

Girls
Group A: (1) Morristown vs. Montclair (3), 5:30 p.m.
Group B: (1) Northern Highlands vs. (2) Roxbury, 7 p.m.
Group C: (1) Mountain Lakes vs. Kinnelon (3), 4 p.m.

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BOYS

  1. NV/Demarest (10-0)
  2. Bergen Catholic (5-3)
  3. Tenafly (7-1)
  4. Passaic Tech (13-0)
  5. Northern Highlands (9-3)
  6. Teaneck (10-5)
  7. Indian Hills (8-2)
  8. Ridgewood (5-5)
  9. NV/Old Tappan (5-3)
  10. Don Bosco (6-3-1)

GIRLS

  1. Immaculate Heart (7-0)
  2. Northern Highlands (10-1-1)
  3. Pascack Regional (8-1-1)
  4. NV/Demarest (6-3-1)
  5. Wayne Hills (11-1-1)
  6. Tenafly (5-4)
  7. Ridgewood (5-5)
  8. Hackensack (10-2-1)
  9. Passaic Tech (9-4-1)
  10. River Dell/Westwood (6-5)